Endotracheal tube positioner

ABSTRACT

An endotracheal tube holder or positioner is disclosed having a collar member formed from at least two body portions engaged together to form a central orifice extending axially therethrough. The body portions are engaged together by a hinge member and a clasp. Each body portion includes a radially deflective clamping member, the clamping member forming an adjustable clamping orifice designed to accommodate and grip endotracheal tubes of varying diameters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a medical device designed to grip andposition an endotracheal tube which has been placed, either orally ornasally, into the trachea of a patient for the purpose of conveying gasto the lungs of the patient. Once the tube is correctly positionedwithin the patient, it is important that the tube be retained in itsspecified position against forces such as those occurring as a result ofpatient swallowing and muscular reflexes without need for removal orrepositioning. The most conventional past practice for securing anendotracheal tube in a desired position is to wrap the tube withadhesive tape and secure the tape to the patient's jaws and cheeks. Thismanner of securing the endotracheal tube in position is quiteundesirable and usually impractical, creating a large amount of patientdiscomfort.

Recognizing the insufficiencies of taping, there have been proposed inthe prior art many varieties of endotracheal tube holders all intendedto improve upon the commonplace use of tape. However, such devices havemany times introduced other disadvantages and impracticalities. Forinstance, many of the tube holders create discomfort to the patient dueto a lack of flexibility, create potentials for occlusions of the tube,and provide difficulty in adjusting and repositioning the tube as wellas in maintaining a secure grip upon the tube since the tubes can beprovided in a variety of diameters. Examples of such prior art are shownin U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,249,529, 4,351,331,4,774,944, and 5,069,206.

Many commercial endotracheal tube holders also encounter problems whenloading and unloading the tube. If the tube must be slid through theholder, difficulties arise due to adaptors which may need to be removed,as well as the need to slide the holder onto the tube from anunobstructed end of the tube. Many times these seemingly simpleadaptions of the tube to the holder create complexities and time delaysthat are undesirable during medical treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention is the provision of anendotracheal tube positioner which is adaptable to properly grip,without occlusion, and maintain the position of an endotracheal tube ofany shape and size. It is commonly known that endotracheal tubes areusually circular in cross section and are provided in a wide variety ofdiameters in an effort to facilitate the appropriate function andcomfort with patients of differing sizes. Therefore, it is important tohave a tube holder or positioner which is readily adaptable to easilygrasp and retain the tube without pinching or occluding the tube.Furthermore, the tube positioner of the present invention is designed tobe spaced apart from the patient's lips and mouth, carried by acomfortable lip bumper, thereby reducing the potential for irritation tothe patient. The tube holder of this invention is commonly provided withat least two parts connected by a hinge and latch design which enablesthe tube to be side mounted into the tube holder or positioner.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an endotrachealtube positioner which effectively grips tubes of varying diameterwithout slippage and without creating an occlusion of the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide an endotracheal tubeholder adaptable for use with any patient.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anendotracheal tube holder which is easily operated to latch and unlatchduring installation or when removal is required.

A further object of the invention is to provide an endotracheal tubepositioner which is side loaded.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings.The invention accordingly consists in features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the endotracheal tube positionerof the present invention in use with a patient;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the endotracheal tube positioner of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the endotracheal tube positioner of FIG. 2 inan unclasped position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the endotracheal tube positioner takenalong line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the endotracheal tube positioner takenalong line 5--5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a first alternative embodiment of theendotracheal tube positioner;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the endotracheal tube positioner of Fig. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the endotracheal tube positioner of

FIG. 6 in an expanded position about an endotracheal tube;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of theendotracheal tube positioner;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the endotracheal tube positioner of

FIG. 9 taken along line 10--10;

FIG. 11 is a partial side view of an alternative embodiment of the tubegripping members intended for use with the endotracheal tube positionerof FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the alternative embodiment of the tubegripping members of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of theendotracheal tube positioner of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the endotracheal tube positioner takenalong line 14--14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the endotracheal tube positioner takenalong line 15--15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the endotracheal tube positioner takenalong line 16--16 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the endotracheal tube positioner showingan endotracheal tube retained in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The endotracheal tube positioner of the present invention is intendedfor use in retaining an endotracheal tube in position within a patientwhere the tube has been inserted, either orally or nasally. Referring toFIG. 1, the tube positioner 10 generally comprises a collar 12 engagedby means of a support member 16 with a lip bumper 18 which is designedto comfortably rest on the patient's upper or lower lip. The lip bumper18 is held in place by straps 20 which preferably are of the loop andhook fastener variety such as that commonly marketed under the trademarkVELCRO®.

Referring now to FIGS. 2--5 the preferred embodiment of the endotrachealtube positioner 10 is shown in detail. The tube positioner 10 iscomposed of a collar 12 retained by a support member 16 in engagementwith a lip bumper 18. The lip bumper 18 is preferably padded or formedfrom a softened material to provide comfort in engagement with thepatient's lip. Attached to the lip bumper 18 are straps 20 having a loopand hook design, such as that commonly marketed under the trademarkVELCRO®. The collar 12 of the tube positioner 10 includes an outer bodywhich is preferably separated into two halves 22A, 22B. The halves ofthe body 22A, 22B are engaged together on one side by means of a hingemember 24 preferably molded or formed from the body material, which ispreferably a hardened plastic. The body halves 22A, 22B rotate about thehinge member 24 as shown in FIG. 3. While the hinge member 24 disclosedin FIGS. 2-5 is shown to be a standard rotating hinge engaged by acentral pin member, it may be desirable or preferable to create thehinge member 24 as a living hinge. A clasp member 26 such as a metalhook is positioned to engage a pin 28 and close the body halves 22A, 22Btogether to form the collar 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The collar member 12defines a central orifice 32 which extends axially through the collarmember 12. As shown in FIGS. 2-5 the hinge 24 and clasp 26 are orientedto be proximate one end of the collar 12 and the opposed end of thecollar 12 is provided with slots 34 which allow the body halves 22A, 22Bto separate and radially expand and contract to accommodate endotrachealtubing of differing diameters. The same opposed end of the collar 12includes a clamping orifice 38 axially aligned with the central orifice32. As clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clamping orifice 38progressively narrows in diameter in the axial direction and is providedwith grooves or knurls 39 designed to assist in gripping the smoothsurface of the endotracheal tube, thereby preventing movement of thetube once it is gripped by the clamping orifice 38. The slots 34 willprovide the flexibility for the body halves 22A, 22B to radially expandabout the endotracheal tube as the tube is retained in the clampingorifice 38 to prevent deleterious squeezing or the occlusion of the tubeupon closure of the body halves 22A, 22B about the tube. Thus, the tubepositioner 10 can be used to accommodate endotracheal tubes of differingdiameters.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, an alternative embodiment of the tubepositioner 110 is shown. The tube positioner 110 includes a collarmember 112 engaged by means of a support member 116 to a lip bumper 118.Straps 120 having a hook and loop configuration, such as the productmarketed under the trademark VELCRO® are engaged with the lip bumper 118to secure the tube positioner 110 in an appropriate position withrespect to the patient's oral or nasal cavities. The straps 120 and thelip bumper 118 are of the same design as that described earlier withregard to the preferred embodiment. The collar member 112 includes abody quartered into equal sections 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D, separated byslots 134. One section 122A is further divided to allow the body to beopened to accept the insertion of an endotracheal tube. The four bodysections 122A-D are engaged with each other by means of living hinges124 positioned about the slots 134 located between the body sections122A-D. A clasp member 126 is positioned across the split body section122A to provide a locking mechanism as the body is enclosed about theendotracheal tube 114. Referring to FIG. 8, the tube positioner 110 ofthe first alternative embodiment is shown retaining an endotracheal tube114 in position. The body portions 122A-D have expanded radially outwardto accept the endotracheal tube 114. The endotracheal tube 114 is heldinto position by contact with the interior surface 138 of the bodysections 122A-D as the sections expand radially about their livinghinges 124 and slots 134.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-12, a second alternative embodiment of the tubepositioner 210 is shown having a collar 212 engaged by means of asupport member 216 to a lip bumper 218. The lip bumper 218 is similar tothat described earlier with respect to the preferred embodiment and isdesigned to be utilized with straps (not shown) similar to thosedescribed earlier with regard to the preferred embodiment. The collar 212 is composed of a body member having two half sections 222A, 222Bengaged about a hinge member 224 with a clasp or snap member 226designed to hold the two halves 222A, 222B together. Preferably thehinge member 224 is a living hinge formed of the same material as thecollar 212. The body sections 222A, 222B engage together to define acentral orifice 232 which extends axially therethrough. Tube grippingmembers 236 extend from the body sections 222A, B, a first grippingmember 236A extending from the body section 222A and a second grippingmember 236B extending from the body section 222B. The gripping members236A, B converge toward each other to create a narrow clamping orifice238 which is axially aligned with the central orifice 232 of the body222. The gripping or clamping members 236A, B are each provided with asharp ridge 240 in opposed relationship, the ridges 240 being intendedto engage and retain the endotracheal tube without creating occlusionswithin the tube. The clamping members 236A,B are preferably formed of amaterial which allows for resilient expansion about the clamping orifice238 to accommodate tubes of differing diameters. The side bars 242positioned at each end of the clamping members 236A,B are intended toprevent the endotracheal tube from slipping sideways out of the clampingorifice 238.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternative embodiment of theclamping member 236 intended for use with the tube holder 210 of FIG. 9is shown wherein the clamping members 236 are curved at their ends toprovide an inline vertical relationship between the gripping points 240located on each clamping member 236A, 236B. The clamping members 236A,Bfurther include the side restraint members 242 as previously described.The gripping points 240 are defined by four angularly disposed pikes 244which are positioned about the curved clamping orifice 238 created bythe clamping member 236A,B.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-17, a third alternative embodiment of the tubepositioner 310 of the present invention is shown in detail. The tubepositioner 310 includes a collar member 312 which is engaged by means ofa support member 316 to a lip bumper 318. The lip bumper 318 is intendedto be used with strap members (not shown) and the lip bumper 318 andstrap members are similar to those described previously with regard tothe preferred embodiment. The collar member 312 includes body portions322A, 322B which are engaged together on one side by a hinge member 324,preferably a living hinge and define a central orifice 332 extendingaxially therethrough. The body portions are fixed together by a claspmember 326 located on the side opposed to the hinge member 324. The bodyportions 322A,B include clamping members 336A,B which extend from thebody members 322A,B to form a clamping orifice 338 axially aligned withthe central orifice 332. The clamping members 336A,B are engaged on eachside by a clamping clasp or snap member 346 which holds the clampingmembers in position about an endotracheal tube of small diameter. Theclamping members 336A, 336B further include a ridge 340 of grippingmembers designed to engage and hold the endotracheal tube in positionwithout occluding the tube. The clamping members 336A,B are flexible asshown in FIG. 17 to expand and contract in order to accommodate tubingof differing diameters.

The above descriptions of the structures relating to the preferredembodiment and three alternative embodiments are intended to beinstructive and are not intended to be fully limiting upon the scope ofthe following claims.

We claim:
 1. An endotracheal tube positioner for use in retaining anendotracheal tube in a desired position with respect to a patientcomprising in combination: a collar member formed from at least two bodyportions engaged together to define an axially oriented orificeextending therethrough, said body portions being joined together by atleast one hinge member and at least one catch member; each of said bodyportions defining a clamping member, said clamping members beingdeflectively resilient for flexing and engaging and retainingendotracheal tubes of varying outside diameter as such tube ispositioned in said orifice; and a strap member for securing said tubepositioner in such desired portion.
 2. The tube holder of claim 1,further including a lip bumper for positioning said tube holder and saidstrap member being secured to said lip bumper.
 3. The tube holder ofclaim 1, wherein said strap member is formed from hook and loopmaterial.
 4. The tube holder of claim 1, wherein said tube clampingmembers define a clamping orifice in communication with said centralorifice, said clamping orifice having a progressively narrowingdiameter.
 5. The tube holder of claim 4, wherein the interior surface ofsaid clamping orifice includes a plurality of concentric ridges forgripping such tube.